The sheer potential of psychedelics in transforming mental healthcare is staggering. What started as curious explorations into how MDMA and Ketamine work in the brain has led to massive discoveries that could reshape the future of medicine.
Ketamine has a lot of clinically proven benefits in treating resistant depression. On the other hand, MDMA has proven effective in treating PTSD, anxiety and OCD. Let's look a closer look at ketamine vs ecstasy to help you choose the best therapy for you or your loved ones.
In 1962, Calvin Stevens invented Ketamine as a safer anesthetic to replace the previously available options. But by the 1970s, its emotional and psychotherapeutic side effects had caught the attention of mental health experts. Today, Ketamine is still used as an anesthetic, but its primary demand is in the treatment of TRD.
MDMA, also known as Molly or Ecstasy, has an even much longer history that goes back to 1912. German drug company Merck created MDMA as an appetite suppressor. By the 1970s and 80s, the drug had found off label use in treating PTSD and other related mental conditions.
Molly and Ketamine differ in many ways. In terms of chemical composition, Ketamine is an arylcyclohexylamine (formula: C13H16ClNO). It works by interacting with the NMDA receptor in the brain and has antidepressant benefits.
Is MDMA Ketamine? No. MDMA comprises of 3,4- methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (formula: C11H15NO2). It works by interacting with serotonin receptors that are in the brain. MDMA causes euphoria.
A Ketamine trip can be mind transformative. Most users report feeling relaxed, happy and well, while others forget their fears and nightmares when on the therapy. Ketamine, though initially designed as an anesthetic, blocks the NMDA receptors in the brain, thus leading to more glutamate availability.
Glutamate is a neurotransmitter responsible for learning and memory, and by impacting it, Ketamine therapy causes the person to feel energized and free to embrace new, happier thoughts and behavior patterns. A 2024 Nature study confirms Ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects, especially for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.
On the other hand, MDMA works by optimizing the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. It also reduces their reuptake, which increases their availability and by extension, improves the mood and overall mental wellness of the person under treatment.
Is Ketamine ecstasy? No. While Ketamine micro dosing has immediate benefits, it took a few weeks for people under a controlled MDMA therapy study to start experiencing relief from the symptoms of PTSD. The benefits of the treatment lasted for a short time compared to Ketamine.
Ketamine therapy has dissociative properties that appear to “reset” the brain. In a sense, it's a hard reboot for the brain where a phenomenon called neuroplasticity unfolds.
In other words, your brain forms new neural pathways that lead to new thought patterns and new behavior. A recent study in PubMed positions Ketamine as a worthwhile solution for treatment resistant depression.
While Ketamine resets the brain, MDMA triggers a euphoric state. Patients undergoing MDMA microdosing treatments report intense feelings of empathy. Because of this, MDMA stands out as a potential alternative therapy for anxiety and emotional trauma.
Ketamine therapy sessions for depression, autism or any other mental health conditions take place in a clinical setting under strict supervision. Each session lasts for about an hour.
The therapy uses very low doses of Ketamine injected into the bloodstream to ensure that patients benefit from its therapeutic benefits without going into the hallucination stage. During or after the treatments, patients are more motivated, happier and optimistic.
WebMD reports that MDMA assisted therapies for PTSD involve around two hour sessions of microdosing. The treatment process involves swallowing a microdose pill. Unlike Ketamine, you may need up to 12 weeks of treatments to start seeing noticeable results.
During and after the treatment, patients report feeling a new sense of awareness, empathy, energy and pleasure. In a study seen in Nature, experimental MDMA therapy done over 8 weeks helped to reduce symptoms of depression more than psychotherapy alone.
The FDA has approved clinical studies on Ketamine and provided guidelines for the same. Ketamine microdosing therapies for TRD are still considered an off label use of the drug.
In the Ketamine Breakthrough by Mike Dow and Ronan Levy, the authors explore how Ketamine clinics are revolutionizing mental healthcare. Despite all the benefits, Ketamine is a Schedule 3 controlled substance - you need a prescription and clinical supervision.
In August 2024, the FDA refused to approve an MDMA based drug for the treatment of PTSD. CNN called it a minor setback that most likely won't reduce the momentum for psychedelics in mental healthcare. MDMA is a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
Schedule 1 substances reportedly have little medical use and more potential for abuse. Schedule 3 substances have more medical benefits and low potential for abuse. This is another molly vs ketamine difference.
Overdosing on Ketamine can lead to massive hallucinations as well as possibly addiction. Abuse of Molly or Ecstasy can lead to extremely high body temperature, which is known as hyperthermia. This can lead to heart attack, heart failure, kidney problems and other complications.
The chemical composition of MDMA includes methylenedioxyamphetamine, caffeine and opiates. Ketamine contains methylamine and chlorophenyls. Because of their different compositions, mixing Ketamine and MDMA may not be wise.
MDMA Ketamine combinations can elevate feelings of euphoria and a heightened sense of sensory perception. As a matter of fact, recreational users who start mixing molly and ketamine, in what is known as kitty flipping, do it to experience love and empathy from MDMA and mellowness and pleasure from Ketamine.
However, mixing Ketamine and Ecstasy can lead to cardiovascular strain because Ketamine is a sedative and MDMA is a stimulant. You also run the risk of experiencing confusion, hallucinations and disorientation on ketamine molly combinations.
In settings where the dosage is not well managed, mixing ketamine and molly could lead to serotonin poisoning. The symptoms include high blood pressure, muscle spasms, high fever, and even unconsciousness.
With their diverse properties and therapeutic benefits, both MDMA and Ketamine may soon revolutionize the wellness industry. More research is needed to uncover ways to maximize their healing potential while minimizing the risks. A lot of lobbying would also be required to decriminalize these substances and make the therapies more widely available.